Transmission lock



July 1, 1930. v c. L. .JOHNSON l1,769,137

TRANSMISSION LOCK n Filed Jan. 31, 192'? 2 sheets-sheet 1 Coll/.zh L Joh-nsw?,

July l, 1930. c. l.. JoHNsoN 1,769,137

TRANSMISSION LOCK l Filed Jan- 31, 1927 2 SheeS-Sheei'. 2

y ga@ EYE-T555 [01Min L Johnson Patented July l, 1930 narran armas l ricain f PATENT orgies loonvrlv L. JoriNsoN, or ST. Louis, MIssoURr, Assrelvon To JOIrNsON AUTOMOBILE nookk oo., OF s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A CORPORATIGN OIE"` MISSOURI- :PMNs-Mission Loox Application led January 31, 1.927. Serial No. 164,889.

This invention relates toy a transmission lockV and particularly concerns itselfwith the provision of an improved locking mechanism which is associated with the gear shift ir-lever and which may be conveniently locked and unlocked.

Itis highly desirable that the key controlled portion of locking mechanisms of this type n be conveniently accessibleA to the operator. lov-This result has heretofore` been accomplished in certain instances by positioning the lock cylinder in the end of the lever or in the lever handle and connecting the same with the lock.-

ing mechanism at the base or pivot point of the lever by a suitable rod. Such constructions, however, have necessitated thev usev of undesirable bulky lever members `or leverv members of very expensive construction.

It is an important object, therefore, of the ggpresent invention to vprovide an inexpensive and durable lever type transmission locking mechanism which is effective and convenient in operation and which at the same time obviates the need of a bulky lever member to assaccommodate the locking mechanism and its' connecting means. Y

Another` importantobject of this invention resides in the provision of an improved mounting of the lever controlling means in sarthe shaft of the lever. i

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disc'lo` ing drawings. p

The invention in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in sectionv showing an improved transmission lever lock embodying the principles of this invention. Y

Figure 1a is an enlarged fragmentary detail section with parts in elevationv taken 'zthrough the lever'handler and showing the` lock cylinder and attendant mechanism therein. i Y

Figure 2 is a central vertical section 'with parts in elevation taken through the pivotal 50 mounting for the lever member.

sures in the speciiication and the accompanyonly bev removed when the rotary lock barrely Figure 3 isV an enlarged section on the line III-III. of Figure 1.

F igure, 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure l5 is aview looking along the line V-V of Fig-ure 1. Y

Figure 6-is a section onthe line VI-VI of 'y Figure 2. y

Figure 7 is a section. on the line VIL-VH of Figure 2. v i

Figure '81 isl an` 'enlarged fragmentary detail with parts in section showing the locking sleeve in unlocked posi-tion. c

Figure9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the locking sleeve or collar in locked'po# sition. y

As shown on the drawings.:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a part ofk a gear shift housing cover in which a 'ball' pivot member 2- is mounted for limited universal movement. Extending through the ball pivot member 2 and secured thereto by usual pin 3. is a leverr member 4 which termi'- nates insa ball handle portion 5'. Mounted in an' axial recess form-ed in the end of the ball handle portion 5 is a lock cylinder 6 which may berotatedin the usual manner through a key 7. The key operated lock is of a conventional type wherein vthe key can 8U y is in a given position. Although other means mayl be employed for securing the lock cylinder 6 in the end of the ball handle 5, I haveV found. itv desirable to secure a sleeve 8 to the end ofthe lever t by means of a blind: set screw 9 and suitable locking balls 10 and to mount the cylinder 6. in the upper endof said sleeve as clearly shown in Figure' la. The cylinder 6 terminates in a plug connection l1. which extends into a recess 12` in the upper end of the leverl andI is there connected with a wire or slender rod lwhich extends axially through the: leverf'or a purpose to be described hereinafter. A passage or recess through the lever through which said wire or rod 13. passes is formed by first milling a relatively deep groove in the lever and then f welding a lilling of metal such as shown at` 14 in Figure 8 in the outer end of said y groove. This leaves a longitudinal passage 100' Y tional metal used in welding fill up the outer end of the groove flush with the surface of the lever. The exterior of the. lever is then properlysmoothed and buled at which time the exterior of the lever presents the same appearance as, and is for all practical purposes a solid member.

, Slidahly mounted on the lever'intermediate the ends thereof is a casing 15 which is pro? vided at its lower end with a flange 16 having a concavely yrecessed lower tace 17 laffording a cover for the rounded portion of the transmission housing coverl above the mounting for the ball 2. YSaid casing 15 is normally urged resiliently upwardly by means of a ring or collar 18 which is slidably mounted y on the lever member 4 and engagesthe Vunderside of the liange 16 inthe concave recess 17. Said collar 18 is in turn 'forced resiliently upwardly by a helical spring 19 which is engaged between the underside thereof and the upper face of the gasket 2O resting in the re# cess in the housing lever 1 above the ball 2.

The gasket member 2O is preferably formed of rubber composition or similar material designed te prevent vibration. In view of the fact that this gasket is of resilient material, I have found it desirable to provide additional means to prevent lthe lever being pulled axially out of the housing cover and have 'y therefore inser ed an annular steel wire 21 in a groove in the housing cover directly above the'fball 2.V The lower end of the lever 4 is `provided with a longitudinal groove 22 which extends from a point within casing 15, as shown in Figure 4. Slidably mounted in this groove 22 is a wire rod or link 23 which is provided at its upper end with a lateral exper tace ot' ring` or collar 18. The lower end of the rod or link 23 is also provided withv a lateral xtension 23 which engages in an aperture in the. locking collar or sleeve 25 slidably mounted on the lower end of the lever 4 and provided with `integrally extending members 26 slidable on either side of the flattened end 4a of said lever 4 (Figures 2 and 4).

It will be apparent from the construction therewith, whereupon the projections 26 will engage in notches formed in shitting blocks 27 vot usual construction (see Figures 5, 8 and 9) to prevent lateral movement of the lever from neutral. position to shift the transmis- .sion gears. c Thus such movement of the casthat the wire and addi-` ing in a downward direction will act to lock the lever 4 in neutral position.'

Itis, ot course, necessary to provide means for locking the casing 15 in such downward position when it is desired to leave the vehicle unattended in order that movement of the lever 4 from neutral position may be prevented. To accomplish this purpose, I have provided a lateral passage 28 in the lever 4 intermediate the ends of the casing 15 and in this passage I have positioned a plurality of locking balls 29, the outer of which are adapted to engage in a rounded groove formed in the inner wall ot the casing 15. These balls are adapted to be held outwardly in said groove to retain the casing 15 in locked downward position by a rotatable locking pin 30 which is mounted in the lever on an axis intersectingl the axis of the passage 28 and which is adapted to be rotated by the rod or wire 13 when the lock cylinder 6 is rotated by virtue of the fact that said pin 30 is connected to the lower endroit said rod or wire 13. The lower end of the pin 30 is flattened l 1 torce the casing 15 upwardly past the balls 29, it seing noted that the groove in the inner wall of said casing 15 is of such depth as to receive less than hall oi. the balls 29. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin 30. the same is provided with a groove intermediate its ends intowhich projects the endof a pin 31 extending laterally into the lever insidethe casing 15. Upward movement of the casing 15 is limited by a suitable boss 32secured to the exterior of the lever 4 and conveniently comprising a wire or similar member engaged in the groove of the exterior thereof.

The lock cylinder 5 is so arranged that the key 7 may only be withdrawn there lrom when ka torsional stress is exerted on the wirevor tension 23au engaged 1n a notch 24 .in the up-y rod 13, this torsional stress being transmitted by the flattened end 30 ot the pin 3() to resiliently force the balls 29 outwardly and insure their engagement in the groove in the inner wall ot the casing 15 when sai-d casing is 'forced downwardly to loclred position.

In operating the devices it is not necessari to use the key to compl-ete the locking operation since pushing down on the casina 15 until the groove in the inner wall theredf is in register with the halls 29 results in said balls being automa ticall forced in the groove and the casing bein j Locked in downward position and the lever is locked from movement in neutral position.V lVhcn it is desired to unloclf. the lever` the key 7 is inserted in the cylinder 6 aud-the cylinder is turned so that the flattened end 30a of the pin 30 is atiright angles to the position shown in Figure 2 whereupon the spring 19 will automatically -torce the casing 15 upwardly carrying the tions 26 therewith. The key may only .be

withdrawn when the cylinder is so positioned as to turn the flattened end 30a of the pin 30 again to the position shown in Figure 2 at which time the balls are resiliently urged out wardly and snap into position in the 'groove in the vcasing l5 when the casing is pushed downwardly. i

It will be apparent from the foregoingdescription that I have provided a lock mechanism which is of simple and durable construction and whichV may conveniently be unlocked. At the same time, due to the improved method which I have provided for mounting the rod or wire 18 in the lever 4, it is not necessary to use an undesirable large and bulky lever to accomplish the desired result and in view of this construction, the lever may retain its neat appearance and at the same time embody the desirable feature of a locking control in the ball handle thereof.

l am aware that numerous details of con' struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and l therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: l. The combination with a gear shift lever, of an interiorly grooved casingy slidably mounted thereon, locking means associated with said casing and operable thereby, a plurality of balls associated with the lever and adapted to be moved into the groove in the casing to lock the same from movement relative to the lever, and means for locking saidiballs in the last-mentioned position.

2. The combination with a gear shift lever, yof an interiorly grooved casing slidably mounted thereon, locking means associated with said casing and movable thereby, a plurality of balls associated with the levervand adapted to be engaged in the groove in the casing to lock the same from movement relative to the lever, and means extending through the lever to the upper end thereof for locking said balls in the last-mentioned position.

3. The combination withV a gear shift lever. of an interiorly recessed casing slidably mounted thereon, locking means associated with said casing and movable thereby, a plurality of balls associated with the lever and adapted to be engaged in the recesses in the casing to lock the same from movement 4relative tothe lever, means for locking said balls in the last-mentioned position, and

v means for automatically moving the casing so that the recesses therein are above the balls when said last-mentioned means are unlocked. Y

4:. VThe combination with a gear shift lever, of an interiorly grooved casing slidably f mounted thereon, locking means associated `urging' the same to assume such position` with saidV casing'and operable thereby, a l

plurality of balls associated kwith the lever and adapted to 'automatically movel int-of the groove `in the casing when the same is in register .therewith to lock the 4casing from vmovement relative to the lever.

5'. The. combination with. a. gearshift lever,l of an interiorly` .grooved .v casing slidably mounted thereon, locking means `associated withk said casing and movable thereby, a plurality of balls associated withthe lever and adapted to be engaged in the groovevin the casing to lock the same from movement relativetothe lever, and means for' locking said balls in the last-,mentioned position, the torsional strain on said last-mentioned means tending to force said balls outwardly when the casing is inV unlocked position. 6. --The` combination with a gear shift lever, of an interiorly grooved casing' slidably mounted` thereon, ay lever locking mechanism operable by said casing, a plurality of means and means controlled' from the end, of. the

lever for locking said means: in the last-mentioned position.

7. The combination with a gear shiftlever, of an interior'ly recessed' casing slidably mounted' thereon, Va lever locking mechanism operable said: casing, a plurality of means looselysupported by the lever andadapted to: engagethei groove in the. casing to lock the same vfrom movement relative to the lever, anda unitary means extending longitudinally through the lever for locking said means in the last-mentioned position and resi'liently when said casing is in unlocked position.

8. The combination with a lever, of a lock` ing mechanism associated therewith, a longitudinal aperture in the lever, control means for' the looking mechanism mounted in said aperture, and means welded in the outerend Vof theV aperture to prevent access tosaid-control means'.

9. 4The combination with a lever, of an aus?l iliary mechanism associated therewith, a longitudinal aperture in thek lever, control means Uit for the auxiliary mechanism mounted in the bottom of lsaid aperture, and means welded in the entrance to the aperture to prevent access l toI said control means. f

l0. The combination with a lever,`of a lock# ing mechanism associated therewith, a longitudinal aperture in the lever, control means for the locking mechanism mounted in the bottom of said aperture, and means perma. nently secured in the entrance to the aperture toprevent access to said control-means.

11. The combination with a lever, of a casing slidably mounted thereon, means carried by the lever for locking said casing from longitudinal movement relative to the lever, a

control means extending throughthe lever to theouter end thereof for operating said lock ing means, said control means exerting a resilient torsional stress on saidiirst-mentioned means to force the same towardV loc-king position.

l2. In combination with an operating lever, a movable .easing associated with an intermediate portion of 'saidy lever operable to 1051061: saidlever ina predetermined position, and lock means associated with an end ofsaid lever for releasing` said casing so as to permit of movement of said lever. i

l8.fln combination With a gear shift lever,

v f. a movable element telescoped by' an intermediate portion of said lever operable to lock said lever in agiven position, and a lock connected to an end of said lever operable to release said element from its locked position so asto permit of movement of said lever.

14. In combination with a gear shift lever, v lock means associated With an intermediate portion of said lever, lock means associated with an endof said lever, and means operatively connecting said two look means, one of said lock means being operable to lock said lever in a given position and the other being operable to release said lever from its looked position.

l5. In combination With an operating lever, a movable element associated With an in-y termediate portion of said leveradapted to be engaged bythe operators foot to lock said lever in a. given position, and lock means associated with the upper end of said lever adapted to be actuated to release said movable element from said locked position soas to permit of movement of said lever.

16. In combination with an operating lever, a movable element associated with an intermediate portion of said lever adapted to be engaged by the operators foot to look said lever in a given position, a keyoperated lock as- Y soeiated with the upper end of said lever arranged to be actuated to release said movable element from said looked position so as to permit of movement of said lever, said lock being of the type wherein the key can only be removed when the lock'is ina given position,`

and resilient means connecting said element to said'lock means and being arranged so that when said lockis in said given position said lever is locked against operation.

ln testimony whereofv I have hereunto Subscribed my name at St. Louis,`Missouri.

COLVIN L. JOHNSON. 

